Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-10-12
MARVIN.

MARVIN.
| FAIRFIELncIReUIr,R ROANOKE DISTRICT BALTI-
MORE CONFERENCE, M. r. CHURCH SOUTH.
/ DEDICATED.
A NEW TEMPLE OF wonsnIP ERECTED ON OLD
GRoUNDs-THE PRESIDING ELDER-Two CIR
| QUIT MINIsTERs-THE STEWARDS. AND A
VAST CONGREGATION PARTICIPATING.
[Heported Tor thespscrAroRl
| For some weeks 1T has been generally known
through the boundary Of the Fairfield Circuit
of the M. E. Church South, in Rockbridg.
county and 4he adjacent country. that the
| beautiful new church erected on the site Of the
| old one known as "White's Gap" was to take
place last Sabbath, and that the new temple
| of worship was to bear the name of
l The reader will at once review in his rehec-
lions the history which has called forth this
tribute OF affection of q goodly portion of the
| Methodist family to great and honored name
| in their church and the country.
On the western side OF the South river In
Rockbridge county. Two miles north or River
side station on the Shenandoah Valley rail-.
road where tall mountains on the East and
high broken hills and cliffs on the west COM
mence to widen in space and the view south
as the Valley and the stream are traced In that
direction, the early Methodist OF ROckbridge
| selected a site to erect house OF worship
Imediately above and just below, were previ.
| ously. as early as before the Revolutionary
War, noted iron-works, and other 1ndustriaa
enterprises engaged in the early manufacture
| of edge tools. and. in more recent times, I'M
proved ploSps. Two noted passes of the Blue
| ridge Mountains converge there IN the river
| valley. and In many respects. as well as being
some distance from other churches. the loca-
ton presented good opportunity for enlarg
ing churcn work, ana tnere an OUT post OF the
more numerous Methodist brotherhood to be
found at Lexington was established, and
small house of worship. which has now given
place to the more imposing church of to-day
was built nearly fifty years ago.
NOTED METHoDIsrs OF THAT DAY
| becoming interested in the expansion of their
membership and the enlargement of the Cir
cu1t-for there was but one then in the terri
tory where now there are three and station
were the early advocates of the movement to
set up their form OF worship and to proclaim
the doctrines of Christianity. as Wesley taught
them, in the South River Valley. They were
such men as John Ruiz. William Letcher.
John Hamilton, William East, John Burgess.
John Wallace, John w. Hamilton, and Samuel
Vanderslice, some OF whom resided in Lexing-
ton and others in other PAL is of the county,
These gentl emen, representing in their day a
fair share of the intelligence, character and
sterling worth of Rockbridge county, were
trustees in holding the property till the imme.
date local strength admitted of it. They have
all passed away, leaving their names cherished
Tin memory, Mr.. John w. Hamilton, the
vopnoest of the oroun heing the last survivor.
He often conducted the social meetings and
f.o,, Io.ot,or mos ,ooro ,,orsonouv associated
LID, ~ .rro,rtt ,f+ha oonorooo4ioy tbon bis
"r;r,,,aI assoo,atos
NJ. 81. for ,ta ohrro,, o,a tho oro,nds chr.
..-s,.r- - 1,or,,ad ~ NJ ~ Nroco,n,
- ,hot o., 800 ,ro,th, .rd ontornrtsina
.,.;.. 49,, Lime, ,r,,ao,, &, ,ha roon,foo,rro
=, odoe tooIs wbo NOS of the presbvterian
f,,th hit o;aad hv o;tts Of ,ond ond rnorov,
=, = a. tnoa;st hrsthren IN the,r burmese ~
80 n.ot,,o,,a, oh,roh =, xh,ot D.,
So T..-,.~ -,or ~. e.. -
rr,r ,r.,v .,,1,pC,,
a,,,.,;,,on 10 =, ,x,,,,,, ,,ro,,or-
60 49, or.ar ,,oI,s hr,a,,t 90 ioro,, IN
go, t-,r,,,.d T., do,a oo1or Toraa r,ndows
If % bite ortword and inward finish and green
blinds The ,nnar walls colored tn snit. with
rnInit obonde,ier ond decorations in pood
civic ~ no. deomed xuor,bv of dedication as II
coma nersect from the hand of the builder
Mr.. Howard r Camnbell. of Raphine. Not
~, - ~ dooorot,on. hrt In tbe srhstont,ol
work on the inner walls. the pastor labored
with his own sktlfr, and nracticed hands for
several weeks with good purpose in several
wavs-not the least being the large exnepse
nrovida for be,ne TINS donated nv their e.
teemed pastor.
The Quarterly Conference was held there
Saturday whea Inc ioilowlng named members
were appointed trustees: ). H.. Whithore' W.
.. nearu' u peoAei' n"uei' oneic ""n,
T. oooulnah. 'us U.s. "etoFe tne to''nai ueuio 20
hni,afno ,voS r.i0sd IN q shor, wbi,e and the
nronertv declared free Of incnmbrance. The
amopnt was wet, distr;hu,ed tbrouoh the con-
oreoation nearly every nerson present giving
l,ometbino-several on mncb az tan dollars.
nrn1cAroRy SERVICES
A BRIGHT October morning WAS that of last
sobhoth The sun With resn,endent ravs had
not rIsan far ohove the mountains that were
decked with every hue from green to gold, be.
fore a very large assemhlage of persons had ar
rived many from distant neighhorhoods-
from Raphine, vesuvious, Montabella. Fair
field, and from all the country roundabout
The house could not contain them. Inc minis
tiers In attendance were Rev. J. 3. HUTCHINSON
from Salem, Presiding Elder; hevs. 5. NJ
Iucker, IN charge OF Faiineio circuit pastor ;
and .. +. Burgess, a former PASTOR now on
Maryland charge Mr.. Iucker announced the
commencement Oh the services oy singing Sne
doxology and the coronation hymn leo oy the
organ which was directed by MISS Lena Whlt-
more throagnout Inc services.
lsMradutchlnson then anhouhOen Inc opening
hymn commencing
! "Behold thy Temple God of Grace,
The House that we have reared for thee
Regard 1t as thy resting-p1ace,
And fill 1t with thy maj esty."
Then f,,,oweS the onen,ne nraver NV MFR.
prrr.., ,,,h;ob torobod mon tho bistorv tho
1ondscone the earIv davs ana the nresent sur-
.o,,n,,,,l,, -, The o,rrch and no latter Growth,
49, $3.50, sor-;oos T., ,vh;oh the, ,rora
~..s A. u,,,.htn.o, ,ont;,r,na ra.d
eneasoo' NIL nu'oniueou, 1e"~
from Inc OH chapIer u zno hinss' 1ne oeolca'